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When there are so many characters in ARMS who are creative and fun, the question "why Min Min for Smash?” is one I’d like to explore in this thread. Listen I’m the only person who plays ARMS so this is my opportunity to talk at length about ARMS while it’s still relevant.
Min Min’s appeal is the perfect intersection of design, playability in Arms (for new players), popularity in Arms online ranking, and playability in Smash. I’ll illustrate each of these points by comparing Min Min to her runner up (or arguably superior) in each category:
First, Design. Twintelle was the shoe-in for this category, but when it comes to playability in Smash, her power is strange. She slows down time when an ARM is near her, which would translate sloppily in Smash, and also is a weirdly specific, niche, and advanced ability in ARMS
Twintelle is also associated with the "Chilla" ARM which additionally acts as a sort of "slow down" mechanic, since its freezes the opponent, making their movements much more sluggish. Maybe not super fun for Smash!!
Second, playability in Smash. I think Springman wins this one, but his counter attack, while PERFECT for Smash, is a weirdly unique ability for new players to ARMs. While he’s the “title” character, he’s not very popular at all, and his default loadout of two Toasters is BORING.
Third, playability in ARMS (for new players) I think goes to Ribbon Girl. She has increased air mobility which is super good for beginners. It teaches you the value of using movement in relation to dodging vs attacking while giving you tons of leeway to punish.
But for Ribbon Girl, just being able to jump a little more and dash a little more doesn't translate that spectacularly into Smash.
Finally, popularity, which is tough to say but I see the most Kid Cobra and Helix players out there. Kid Cobra’s ability is way too movement and ARMS specific, and he’s just not iconic, especially since I find his Slamamander ARMS to be too him-specific.
Helix is just.. uh... weird... and would have a tough time combining what makes him unique and portraying what ARMS is all about because... he can’t jump. Well... he can, but he chooses not to I guess.
Min Min's design is creative, fun, grounded, and CLEAR. Her arms are made of noodles!! Her hat is a noodle bowl!! Great portrayal of the concept of “all the ARMS are objects” in a weird way but not TOO weird. Great theming, and unique orange, green, and yellow color palette
Min Min’s unique ability is that she can maintain a “powered up” ARM indefinitely in her dragon ARM. This is an ability that utilizes a functionality that is both unique to ARMS and is used by EVERY CHARACTER IN ARMS albeit less so (they lose their powered up ARM after a sec).
Portraying a character from ARMS that puts a unique feature of ARMS front and center in important for teaching potential new ARMS players how to play before they even try it.
Not everyone can slow down time like Twintelle can, not everyone can triple jump like Ribbon Girl can, but everyone CAN power up their ARMS like Min Min can. Her ability teaches you how to play ARMS in general, not just as Min Min.
And hey, Min Min’s the only fighter with two different default ARMS! Moreover, her default ARMS both in Smash and in ARMS are the Dragon and the Ramram, two “non-punching glove” ARMS.
I think when people imagine “ARMS” they see big fists flying around in straight lines, but the version where a floating Dragon is shooting a laser and a Ramram blindsides you is more akin to how ARMS is typically played.
Min Min is so miraculously and perfectly well suited to be the ARMS rep in Smash Bros that I almost wonder if there was even any deliberation internally. Anyway I hope she brings new players to ARMS because I’m lonely and the ranked queue is too long now. Please help.
Or maybe Kosuke Yabuki said he liked Min Min so he put her in because he liked her and I'm thinking way too hard about any of this.
